Superstorm Sandy: It's time to help our neighbors, but be careful when doing so

Published: Wednesday, October 31, 2012 at 02:29 PM.

Anyone who’s ever been on the business end of a devastating storm — and few know more about it than North Carolina’s coastal communities — can empathize easily with those suffering the misery visited on the northeastern United States by Sandy — 38 dead, millions without electricity, thousands in shelters, public transportation systems in tatters, homes and businesses flooded.

And it’s easy to remember the misery remains long after the skies clear and the TV cameras fold up and head to the next tragedy in the making. That’s when survivors go through the long, slow process of recovery. We want to reduce their pain and bolster the resources of agencies administering to them. In the rush to help, though, that generosity is sometimes wasted on the wrong kind of contribution or on the wrong relief organization.

Here are some tips for making sure your donation is put to good use, provided by the Better Business Bureau, the IRS and others:

Consider with caution third-party evaluations of charities; some may have not have fully researched the listed relief organizations. The BBB accredits charities and relief organizations and the list of those that past muster are at bbb.org/charity. The IRS also provides a website — Exempt Organization Select Check at http://go.usa.gov.YwZw — that allows users to research the tax exempt status of an organization.

Be cautious when giving online.Websites that look like a well-known, reliable charitable organization’s site can be built in a hurry — and will be by people wanting to scam you out of your money. Be suspicious, as well, of spam messages and emails that claim to link to a relief organization.

Look for charities that have a presence in the affected areas. That makes it easier for them to get aid to victims. A charity’s website should also be clear about how that aid works to address immediate needs.

Some charities raise money for other groups, so you may want to eliminate the middle man and contribute directly to an organization that has a presencein the affected region.

Anyone who’s ever been on the business end of a devastating storm — and few know more about it than North Carolina’s coastal communities — can empathize easily with those suffering the misery visited on the northeastern United States by Sandy — 38 dead, millions without electricity, thousands in shelters, public transportation systems in tatters, homes and businesses flooded.

And it’s easy to remember the misery remains long after the skies clear and the TV cameras fold up and head to the next tragedy in the making. That’s when survivors go through the long, slow process of recovery. We want to reduce their pain and bolster the resources of agencies administering to them. In the rush to help, though, that generosity is sometimes wasted on the wrong kind of contribution or on the wrong relief organization.

Here are some tips for making sure your donation is put to good use, provided by the Better Business Bureau, the IRS and others:

Consider with caution third-party evaluations of charities; some may have not have fully researched the listed relief organizations. The BBB accredits charities and relief organizations and the list of those that past muster are at bbb.org/charity. The IRS also provides a website — Exempt Organization Select Check at http://go.usa.gov.YwZw — that allows users to research the tax exempt status of an organization.

Be cautious when giving online.Websites that look like a well-known, reliable charitable organization’s site can be built in a hurry — and will be by people wanting to scam you out of your money. Be suspicious, as well, of spam messages and emails that claim to link to a relief organization.

Look for charities that have a presence in the affected areas. That makes it easier for them to get aid to victims. A charity’s website should also be clear about how that aid works to address immediate needs.

Some charities raise money for other groups, so you may want to eliminate the middle man and contribute directly to an organization that has a presencein the affected region.

Give cash. Contributions of food and clothing do not have the immediate impact that money does because they take longer to distribute. Some relief organizations may not have the staff or infrastructure to do that job well. Donations to the American Red Cross can be made online at www.redcross.org or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS. Donations to the Salvation Army can be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling1-800-SAL-ARMY.

We urge all to remember our friends in need during this devastating time. Just be smart when doing so.